RE: "and then," or simply "then"?

["Sean Brierley" <sbrierley -at- Accu-Time -dot- com>]

I get the sense that, in academia, there is a strong movement that
believes the teaching of grammar adds nothing useful to the teaching of
reading and writing.

However, the information I've seen on the subject is unclear and seems
to focus on extremes, such as that teaching only grammar is bad. Well,
sure, teaching only grammar and not its application lacks context. So,
while I would agree that teaching grammar by itself does little good,
teaching a foundation of grammar in conjunction with how to apply
grammar might be worthwhile.

So, I don't react to academics who poo-poo the teaching of grammar
without learning the context of their disdain. And, if the context of
their disdain is that teaching of only grammar doesn't work, then I
don't bother with the argument. If the context of their disdain is that
teaching the basics of grammar in context of larger text doesn't work,
then they have an argument on their hands and I need to see some proof.

Like so many things in life, I see the structure of grammar as necessary
but not independent. So, take what you learn of grammar and apply it to
the larger body of work, and I think you'll do fine.

Cheers,

Sean

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Gordon McLean
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:05 AM
To: 'Caroline Tabach'
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "and then," or simply "then"?


He didn't go into great detail, but he was "despairing" of the grammar
rules section of the book.
 
Caveat being that he was despairing of most such books, he wasn't just
picking on Strunk and White (I won't even mention what he said about
Lynne
Truss!)
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